The whole world full of riffraff demand to come here, and our own "sign" isn't even on the chart??!?
Posted on 10/26/2024 8:56:25 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
In the United States, giving someone a thumbs up making a horn shape with your fingers are usually considered to be friendly gestures. But in other countries, those hand signals might have an entirely different and potentially insulting meaning. When traveling abroad, you should always be aware of local customs and etiquette rules. Rather than risk offending a local, take some time to learn about what’s considered impolite before you travel to an unfamiliar location. To start, here are six common hand gestures that you should avoid using in certain countries.
In the U.S., holding your index and middle finger in the shape of a “V” with your palm facing out is known as the peace sign. But in the United Kingdom, that same gesture stands for “victory,” and it was popularized by Winston Churchill as a gesture to convey hope during World War II. On your travels to the U.K. or Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand, be careful to avoid turning your palm inward. That’s because making a “V” sign with the back of your hand facing out is akin to telling someone, “Up yours!”
In order to beckon someone, you may place your palm toward the sky and curl either one or all of your fingers toward you. However, this is a highly offensive gesture in the Philippines. In fact, it’s considered to be such an insult that it’s even punishable by arrest in extreme instances. This is due to the fact that Filipinos often use this same gesture to summon dogs and other animals. Fortunately, there’s a much better alternative for calling someone over in the Philippines — just face your palm down instead of upward and bring the fingers toward you in a scratching motion.
Crossing your fingers brings you the opposite of good luck in Vietnam, as the gesture is understood to be deeply offensive. Locals liken the appearance of crossed fingers to a part of the female anatomy, which has earned the gesture its unfortunate connotation. If you’re looking to wish someone good luck while traveling through Vietnam, just say chúc may mắn instead.
Be careful not to use the wrong finger when pointing at someone or something in Malaysia. What is considered the most offensive digit over in Southeast Asia is also the most common one here in America: the index finger. Malaysians consider pointing with your index finger to be bad etiquette, though pointing with your thumb is perfectly acceptable.
For Americans, making a horn shape with your index and pinky fingers outstretched generally means, “Rock on!” But in Italy and other Mediterranean countries, the sign of the horns can be considered taboo depending on how you use it. If you keep the fingers pointed downward, it’s a gesture of good luck that’s used to ward off evil. But if you point the “horns” at someone or raise your fingers toward the sky, then the gesture is considered highly offensive. Wagging your hand around adds further insult, so avoid it at all costs.
While in Belgium, be careful to avoid flicking the bottom of your chin with the backside of your hand. Locals use this gesture to tell another person to “get lost.” This is also the case in places like Tunisia and northern Italy. Interestingly, the chin-flick gesture means something entirely different in southern Italy, where it’s used to simply say “no.”
By the way, that’s exactly the sign I make to all those who think to embrace the “right” to invade our border as criminals. Eff. You.
Romeo and Juliet Act 1, scene 1
Gregory. I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.
Sampson. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
[Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR]
Abraham. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson. I do bite my thumb, sir.
Abraham. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson. [Aside to GREGORY] Is the law of our side, if I say ay?
Gregory. No.
Sampson. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.
Don’t ever ask for five of anything in Greece by showing an open hand with all fingers extended.🖐️
Why is the five in Greece a bad thing? Don’t they do high fives? 🙌
In Egypt, thumbs up is very rude, means same as middle finger here.
“Chin flick” was a sign of contempt in my day - often accompanies with picking imaginary filth off of your show and throwing it.
“So what about THIS one?”
Doesn’t it indicate one’s intention to give a gift of one hundred dollars?
It’s an old Greek curse. Wishing the person to go blind or the equivalent of flipping them off. If they do high fives, it would be with people they know well or can mess with, not strangers.
When my Dad's team won one of these awards, he was the only one in the team picture not making the "OK" sign. When I asked him why, he explained that in many Latin American countries, what we think of as an "OK" sign, to them it is signal used by Gay men to subtly signal that fact to other Gay men (the imagery intended should be obvious).
So, word to the wise when visiting Latin America: it's better to say "OK" (which is kind of universal anyway) than to give a hand sign that might get you unwanted attention.
“In order to beckon someone, you may place your palm toward the sky and curl either one or all of your fingers toward you. However, this is a highly offensive gesture in the Philippines. In fact, it’s considered to be such an insult that it’s even punishable by arrest in extreme instances. This is due to the fact that Filipinos often use this same gesture to summon dogs and other animals. Fortunately, there’s a much better alternative for calling someone over in the Philippines — just face your palm down instead of upward and bring the fingers toward you in a scratching motion.”
Oddly in Venezuela it is a bit opposite. You place your hand erect and close your palm repeatedly and if not seen say pisst (just the sound) vocally which has nothing to do with urinary function. It is just to get the attention of the waiter.
I lived there pre Chaves. It was great. Today it is a hell hole.
I learned through some visiting peers that sitting with your foot on your knee or crossing your legs while sitting can be precarious in many Middle Eastern countries, as exposing the bottom of your foot or your shoe is a sign of contempt. They’re very particular about the bottom of your feet being dirty.
Foreigners are too superstitious and annoying.
They are too terrified to explain the horns gesture. Cuckoldry.
That’s all I need...More eggshells to have to walk on. I’m not very good at it and I have no plans for going out of my way any more than I have already, which was probably a mistake to begin with.
Having lived in Southern Italy for two years, I can tell you the chin flick (Non me frega!) means no-as in you’re wrong or I don’t care, but the nose flick means “no, you lying idiot”!
You ever play morra? The Italians are very expressive people with their hands. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Where was it, Nixon stepped out of the plane door and gave his traditional “two handed peace sign”. Turns out, such a gesture even with one hand was considered highly offensive, so it looked like he just stepped out and gave the country a giant FU. Before, you would blame his handlers for their ignorance, but now I wonder if they encouraged him.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.